SEATTLE — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA Airport) is introducing facial recognition technology at TSA checkpoints in a move that is supposed to streamline the process for travelers and agents.
At a demonstration at SEA Airport on Wednesday, mock travelers showed how the process would work for those who elect to use the technology. As of now, it is optional.
A traveler will hand the TSA agent their ID and look into a camera at the checkpoint. The facial recognition technology will then compare the traveler's face against their ID, and biographical data against a database of travelers who are expected to move through the airport in the next 24 hours. This will allow the agent to verify the person's ID, and that they are expected at the airport, more quickly than the old manual process.
A spokesperson said the technology can easily match someone to their ID even in the case of changes in appearance, like growing or shaving facial hair, weight loss or weight gain, or if a traveler is wearing or has taken off their glasses. When authenticating someone's identity, the technology references facial features that are not liable to change, like the distance between someone's eyes and the curvature of their chin.
As soon as the TSA agent is done verifying that particular passenger, they clear the data from the screen - it is not retained by the checkpoint system.
The technology accepts any type of government-issued ID that TSA accepts.
Currently, the technology is in use at checkpoints 1 and 4 at SEA. Eventually, it will be deployed throughout the airport. The system is already in place at several other airports across the country.
As of now, the system is not checking if traveler IDs are RealID compliant, but it will be updated after the new requirements go into effect next May.
